Hikers rest by the clear water of Lake Hechtsee, surrounded by autumn foliage and the Brandenberg Alps in Kufstein, Tyrol, Austria, on November 7, 2025. [AFP] In the Congo Basin, forests are cleared each day as rivers that sustain millions of livelihoods decline. Across the Sahel, advancing deserts consume fertile land and drive families from their homes. Lake Chad has diminished sharply, leaving communities without water, food or security. These developments reveal a growing global challenge as the natural systems that support societies, economies and climate stability continue to weaken. Conservation has become an economic and social priority that…